Mixed-media artist and maize meal brand unite to help nourish and feed

Marian Immerman (left) with her artwork and Claudine Alexander of Premier Food (right) with the project team at the graduation.

The artist, Marian Immerman, was invited by the Umcebo Trust to participate in an exhibition entitled Intellectual Property, taking place at the KZNSA Art Gallery from 21 July to 15 August. Immerman is one of a select group of artists who will be exhibiting work that has a strong eco, recycling or social message.

"For years I have been passionate about what I refer to as the three Rs: Renaissance, Rebirth and Restoration, which all talk to taking something old, breathing new life into it to make it new and thus continuing the circle of life, while restoring dignity and respect," said Immerman. "The piece I'll be showcasing embraces animal conservation and I have used different mediums, such as fabrics and recycled items, to create a statement piece under the heading Art with a Purpose - Cyclical Journeys.

"The focal point of my multifaceted piece is the metal armature Nyala, a spiral-horned antelope native to southern Africa, mounted on a dartboard and woven with fabric offcuts, earrings, buttons and belts. The message: there are two kinds of players, those who play the game fairly and those who don't," she explained.

The Nyala is also the proud logo of a maize meal brand that goes back more than half a century. Milled specifically for KwaZulu-Natal, it is enriched with vitamins and minerals, and is a firm favourite and a staple in many homes.

Disadvantaged communities in rural areas

"Through my art pieces I have also tried to make a difference to disadvantaged communities in rural areas and so, by using the Nyala, I have co-opted the support of Premier to donate Nyala Super Maize Meal to three projects in the Nsimbini area," said Immerman.

Around 25% of the 20,000 population in Nsimbini are orphans and one of their greatest needs is food security. Via the auspices of 'A Centre That Serves' (ACTS) three deserving projects in the rural area of the KZN South Coast were identified and will receive thirty 12.5kg bags of Nyala Super Maize Meal to help provide meals for community members.

The beneficiaries are: the Khaya Langa Preschool Feeding Project, the Nsimbini Community Centre Feeding Project and the Igugu Labantu Sewing Project.

"The need is great but the community is passionate about turning their lives around and helping each other," explained Carol van Zyl of ACTS, who works in partnership with these projects on a day-to-day basis to support and empower them."

The Khaya Langa Preschool Feeding Project

They used to feed almost 2,000 children but, due to shortage of food donations are currently only able to feed 47 preschool children five days a week. The much needed donation of Nyala Super Maize Meal will help expand this to feed extra children from the community. Most recipients are orphans or live in child headed homes. Through donations the project has managed to plant a vegetable garden that helps supply fresh produce to the soup kitchen.

The Nsimbini Community Centre Feeding Project

This project currently feeds 50 children but with the donation from Premier they will be able to feed twice that number per day. An initial donation of land, followed by a container donation, enabled them to set up a soup kitchen and preschool which operates four days a week. Run by the community, for the community, the project ploughs any funding back into helping those most in need and also endeavours to keep children in school.

The Igugu Labantu Sewing Project

Headed by designer Gcina Mtshali, the project was the proud recipient in 2013 of a Mayoral Award for the Best Rural Community Upliftment Project for the work it does in teaching women to sew. Lessons are free of charge and to-date 18 women have learnt to design their own patterns and sew. A further group of six women graduated on Friday, 29 May. ACTS donated school uniform fabric to the Project that has resulted in Mtshali and his team having contracts with three local schools to supply school uniforms. Everyone works as volunteers and any profits are used to buy equipment and fabric. Recently they set up a soup kitchen and the Nyala Super Maize Meal donation will help jump start this feeding scheme.

"Growing Together is Premier's mantra," says Brand Manager, Peane Maponyane of Premier, "and we are happy to be working with ACTS and Marian Immerman to help feed those in need. We know our maize meal might be one of the humblest of breakfast porridges but it is an integral part of meal times every day and offers a balanced, nutritious meal that is rich in vitamins, iron, potassium and magnesium. We hope that in some small way our contribution will help enable those in the Nsimbini community to break out from the cycle of poverty."